北約 vs 金磚國家 —— 有什麼區別？兩者對比如何？：英語精讀講義

NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 片語搭配

NATO代表北大西洋公約組織。

It has 29 member countries from Europe,

它擁有29個成員國，分別來自歐洲、

Eurasia, and North America.

歐亞大陸和北美洲。

This alliance was founded mainly on the principles of what NATO calls collective defense. 文化背景

這個聯盟主要建立在北約所稱的集體防禦原則之上。

These should be buddy countries defending each other when needed,

這些國家應該作為盟友，在需要時互相保衛，

but the relationship goes deeper than that. 慣用語

但其關係遠不止於此。

We'll find out later how.

我們稍後會一探究竟。

NATO says it's open to new European members

北約表示對新的歐洲成員國持開放態度，

just as long as they further the principles of this treaty 文法

只要他們能進一步推進該條約的原則，

and contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. 片語搭配

並為北大西洋地區的安全做出貢獻。

As for BRICS, 表達脈絡

至於金磚國家（BRICS），

that's an acronym that stands for the nations of Brazil,

這是一個代表巴西、

Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

俄羅斯、印度、中國和南非的縮寫詞。

It used to be just BRIC until South Africa came to the game in 2010 文法

過去它只是金磚四國（BRIC），直到2010年南非加入

and pluralized the group.

才使得該集團的縮寫變成了複數形式。

How do these alliances compare?

這兩個聯盟該如何比較呢？

That's what we'll find out today.

這就是我們今天要探討的內容。

In this episode of The Infographics Show,

在這一期的《資訊圖表秀》中，

NATO versus BRICS.

北約對決金磚國家。

Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell button

別忘了訂閱並點擊小鈴鐺按鈕，

so that you can be part of a notification squad.

這樣你就能成為我們通知小分隊的一員。

Yes, you are probably thinking,

是的，你可能在想，

how can they compare these alliances?

他們怎麼能把這兩個聯盟進行比較呢？

One is a giant and the other relatively small, 文法

一個是龐然大物，另一個相對較小，

if not growing fast.

儘管增長速度很快。

Well, this is a comparison just to help you learn more about both organizations,

好吧，這個比較只是為了幫助你更多地了解這兩個組織，

and we shouldn't really be thinking about it as some kind of literal matchup. 用詞

我們不應該把它看作是字面意義上的直接對決。

However, you can watch the show and make up your own mind. 慣用語

不過，你可以看完節目後得出自己的判斷。

Let's start with what NATO is.

讓我們先從北約是什麼開始。

We'll list the 29 countries in order that they joined,

我們將按照加入順序依序列出這29個國家，

bearing in mind that 12 countries founded NATO in 1949. 片語搭配

請記住，1949年有12個國家創立了北約。

These were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy,

它們分別是比利時、加拿大、丹麥、法國、冰島、義大利、

Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,

盧森堡、荷蘭、挪威、葡萄牙、

the United Kingdom, and the United States.

英國和美國。

Greece and Turkey came next in 1952,

接著是1952年加入的希臘和土耳其，

West Germany in 1955,

1955年的西德，

but when Germany in 1990 was reunified,

但當1990年德國重新統一後，

what had been East Germany joined the gang. 文法

前東德地區也加入了這個集體。

Next, over many years,

接下來，在許多年的時間裡，

came Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,

西班牙、捷克共和國、匈牙利、波蘭、

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,

保加利亞、愛沙尼亞、拉脫維亞、立陶宛、羅馬尼亞、

Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia,

斯洛伐克、斯洛維尼亞、阿爾巴尼亞、克羅埃西亞相繼加入，

and last to join was Montenegro in 2017.

最後一個加入的是2017年的蒙特內哥羅。

It took longer for some countries to join because they were aligned with the Warsaw Pact, 片語搭配

一些國家花費了更長的時間才加入，因為它們曾與華沙公約組織結盟，

or in the case of a country such as Montenegro,

或者像蒙特內哥羅這樣的國家，

because it was part of the former Yugoslavia.

因為它曾是前南斯拉夫的一部分。

You might ask then, why is Serbia not a member?

那麼你可能會問，為什麼塞爾維亞不是成員國？

Well, according to NATO,

嗯，根據北約的說法，

unlike other Western Balkan partners,

與其他西巴爾幹夥伴不同，

Serbia does not aspire to join the alliance. 片語搭配

塞爾維亞並不渴望加入該聯盟。

It does, however, want to stay friendly. 表達脈絡

不過，它確實希望保持友好關係。

Countries such as Australia are allies of NATO,

像澳洲這樣的國家是北約的盟友，

friendly, but not in the group.

關係友好，但不在該集團內。

It's the same with New Zealand.

紐西蘭也是如此。

Turkey is the only nation in the group which is a transcontinental nation, 文化背景

土耳其是該集團中唯一一個地跨兩大洲的國家，

often called Eurasian as it's mostly in Asia but partly in Europe.

通常被稱為歐亞國家，因為它大部分在亞洲，一部分在歐洲。

So, was NATO all about protecting each member and not starting another war?

那麼，北約成立的目的完全是為了保護每個成員國並避免挑起新的戰爭嗎？

Kind of, and also an extension of the Marshall Plan to build trade between nations 語氣意圖

可以說是，同時也是馬歇爾計畫的延伸，旨在建立國家間的貿易關係，

and also get them on one side against America's big bad wolf at the door, communism. 慣用語

也是為了把它們團結在一起，共同對抗美國門外那匹險惡的大灰狼——共產主義。

You can also find plenty of articles and research out there that discusses the economic effect of being a NATO member.

你也可以找到大量關於成為北約成員國經濟影響的文章和研究。

Most analysts agree that getting in with the group can bolster a country's economy, 講解

大多數分析人士同意，加入該集團可以提振一個國家的經濟，

but also serve to help education, innovation, and entrepreneurialism.

同時也有助於教育、創新和創業精神的發展。

So, that's NATO in a nutshell. 慣用語

所以，這就是北約的簡要介紹。

What about BRICS?

那金磚國家呢？

Well, this collaboration started in 2006 when the first BRIC meeting was held.

這個合作始於2006年舉行的首次金磚四國會議。

The group's raison d'être was, like NATO, 用詞

該集團的宗旨與北約一樣，

to help its members, but there is less emphasis on defense.

是為了幫助其成員國，但對國防的側重點較少。

BRIC members would support each other regarding the economy,

金磚國家成員會在經濟、

business and trade, education, agriculture, health, technology, science, and the arts.

商業貿易、教育、農業、健康、技術、科學和藝術等領域互相支持。

Matters of defense, of course, are also matters of economy,

當然，國防問題也是經濟問題，

so the twain meet occasionally. 慣用語

所以兩者偶爾會有交集。

The International Monetary Fund says these BRICS countries together control about 22% of the world's GDP.

國際貨幣基金組織表示，這五個金磚國家共同控制著全球約22%的GDP。

In terms of population, 片語搭配

在人口方面，

these five countries are made up of around 42.58% of the world,

這五個國家佔世界人口的42.58%左右，

over 3 billion people.

超過30億人。

As for NATO, well, it's much smaller in terms of population at around 800 million people,

至於北約，就人口而言規模要小得多，大約有8億人，

but the nations of China and India, according to the UN,

但根據聯合國的數據，中國和印度的人口

are going to explode over the next 40 odd years,

在未來40多年裡將呈爆炸式增長，

while Nigeria will take over the United States in terms of population.

而奈及利亞在人口上將超過美國。

So, regarding the amount of people,

因此，就人口數量而言，

BRICS is going to be more like a stone wall casting a shadow over the fence of NATO. 慣用語

金磚國家更像是一堵投下陰影蓋過北約圍牆的石牆。

BRICS nations are said to be more developing than some of the more developed economic powerhouses of NATO, 用詞

人們常說金磚國家大多處於發展中階段，相比之下，北約的一些經濟強國更為發達，

nations that have been rich and powerful for a long time

這些國家長期以來一直富裕且強大，

and have wielded imperial military might all over the world for many years, 片語搭配

並在多年裡在世界各地展示過帝國主義的軍事霸權，

often in a bloodthirsty manner, we might add.

我們可能要補充一句，通常是以一種殘暴的方式。

But this has given them much power and improved industry and innovation.

但這給了它們很大的權力，並促進了工業和創新的發展。

According to a NATO report, the GDP of every NATO country is almost $38 trillion.

根據一份北約報告，所有北約國家的GDP總額接近38兆美元。

The USA makes up for a large chunk of this, 文法

其中美國佔據了很大一部分，

with Germany, France, and the UK also being strong economies.

德國、法國和英國也是強勁的經濟體。

BRICS has a total GDP of around $17 trillion, with China leading the way. 慣用語

金磚國家的總GDP約為17兆美元，其中中國一馬當先。

It's anyone's guess what will happen to these economies over the next 15 or 20 years, 慣用語

未來15或20年這些經濟體會發生什麼，誰也說不準，

but most economists don't see BRICS slowing down. 文法

但大多數經濟學家並不認為金磚國家的發展速度會放緩。

Many people think that by 2030, China's economy will be bigger than the USA's,

許多人認為，到2030年，中國的經濟規模將超過美國，

while India won't be far behind in third place. 慣用語

而印度也將緊隨其後位居第三。

Russia, Japan, and Indonesia will be grouped behind India,

據說，俄羅斯、日本和印尼將排在印度之後，

so we are told, but with much smaller economies. 表達脈絡

但它們的經濟規模要小得多。

While Brazil will also be a top 10 nation,

雖然巴西也將躋身前十名，

so will Germany, the UK, and France. 文法

德國、英國和法國也是如此。

Well, that's the prediction.

這就是預測的結果。

This is in spite of many articles telling us over the last few years 文法

儘管過去幾年裡有許多文章告訴我們

that the BRICS bubble had burst, with China seeing some economic slowdown 慣用語

金磚國家的泡沫已經破裂，中國出現了一些經濟放緩，

and Russia and Brazil feeling the sting of recession. 慣用語

而俄羅斯和巴西則感受到了經濟衰退的陣痛。

The Guardian referred to this, stating,

《衛報》提到了這一點，並表示：

"Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa

「巴西、俄羅斯、印度、中國和南非

seem to be failing to justify predictions of 21st century domination."

似乎未能實現其在21世紀佔據主導地位的預測。」

Time will tell. 慣用語

時間會證明一切。

Another problem BRICS faces is endemic corruption, 片語搭配

金磚國家面臨的另一個問題是地方性腐敗，

and this is generally not seen as something good for social and economic progress.

這通常被認為不利於社會和經濟進步。

BRICS countries also still have plenty of abject poverty, 片語搭配

金磚國家仍然存在著大量赤貧現象，

even while the middle class grows. 文法

即使中產階級在不斷壯大。

India, for instance, according to the recent book, India Conquered:

例如，根據最近出版的《被征服的印度：

The Chaos of Empire,

帝國的混亂》一書所指出的，印度

still has an oppressive caste system and often ensconces its wealthy far away from a poverty

仍然有著壓迫性的種姓制度，並且經常將其富人與他們寧願不知道其存在的

it would rather not know exists. 文法

貧困隔絕開來。

This is generally seen as stifling social mobility. 片語搭配

這通常被認為扼殺了社會階層的流動性。

By the way, the book takes a very dim view of empire, 慣用語

順便說一句，這本書對帝國的看法極其負面，

to say the least, but does say India's class system is a major problem as India tries to develop. 慣用語

但它確實指出，在印度努力發展的過程中，階級系統是一個重大問題。

One economics analyst at the University of Cambridge recently stated, though,

不過，劍橋大學的一位經濟分析師最近表示

that there is progress, writing,

印度取得了進展，他寫道：

"Despite these obstacles, evidence from surveys of nationally representative samples indicates 片語搭配

「儘管存在這些障礙，但具有全國代表性樣本的調查證據表明，

that there has been convergence between the upper castes and the lower castes 用詞

在過去幾十年裡，高種姓和低種姓之間

on education and occupations over the past decades."

在教育和職業方面已經出現了趨同。」

We should also state here that Britain's class system still exists.

我們在這裡還應該說明，英國的階級系統依然存在。

Food banks are common and the poor often live in towns full of charity shops,

食物救濟站很常見，窮人通常生活在遍布慈善商店、

discount grocery stores, and betting establishments for the poor's fix of hope.

折扣雜貨店和為窮人提供微薄希望的博彩場所的城鎮裡。

The USA, meanwhile, is said to contain a third world within the highly developed nation. 用詞

與此同時，據說美國在這個高度發達的國家內部包含著一個第三世界。

Still, overall in the latter countries,

儘管如此，在這些發達國家中，總體而言，

there is more opportunity for the average person and a much firmer safety net in place for the vulnerable. 慣用語

普通人有更多的機會，弱勢群體也有更加堅實的社會安全網保障。

In terms of military, you'll know from our long list of shows that NATO has the most powerful,

在軍事方面，從我們以往的大量節目中你會知道北約擁有最強大的軍力，

mostly because the USA spends so much on defense.

這主要是因為美國在國防上的巨額支出。

NATO writes that total defense spending for all its members in 2017 was almost $946 billion.

北約報告稱，2017年其所有成員國的國防總支出近9460億美元。

That is a huge sum.

那是一筆巨款。

BRICS in total has a defense budget of $286.4 billion.

金磚國家的國防預算總額為2864億美元。

There is no way we can list how strong each country is individually,

我們無法一一列出每個國家具體的實力，

but we do know from our other shows that Russia is very strong in terms of defense,

但我們從其他節目中得知，俄羅斯在國防方面非常強大，

and India and China are both increasing their military strength at a rapid pace. 片語搭配

而且印度和中國都在快速提升軍事實力。

We also know the USA won't stop spending,

我們還知道美國不會停止此類支出，

while the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey also have strong militaries.

同時英國、法國、德國、義大利和土耳其也擁有強大的軍隊。

As for nuclear strength, that's shared between Russia and the USA for the most part, 片語搭配

至於核武力量，則主要由俄羅斯和美國主導，

and the outcome of that kind of battle would likely be the end of us all.

而這種戰鬥的結果，很可能會是我們所有人的末日。

So, what are your thoughts about all this?

那麼，你對這一切有什麼看法？

Will BRICS take over NATO in terms of a collective power,

就集體力量而言，金磚國家會超越北約嗎？

or does it still lack in certain advancements?

還是它在某些方面仍然存在不足？

Let us know in the comments.

在評論區告訴我們吧。

Also, be sure to check out our other video called FBI versus CIA.

另外，一定要去看看我們另一部叫做《FBI對決CIA》的影片。

Thanks for watching, and as always,

感謝觀看，一如既往地，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

別忘了按讚、分享和訂閱。

See you next time.

我們下次見。